California has a reputation as a progressive state, but it is surprisingly lacking when it comes to protecting mothers whose children were conceived as the result of sexual assault.
Currently, 27 states allow for the termination of rapists' parental rights or visitation and custody rights when children were conceived as a result of rape. California is not listed among them.
According to the pending Rape Survivors Child Custody Act, 73 percent of women carry children to term following a rape, and 64 percent choose to raise their children. These women deserve protection against rapists who could seek parental rights to further intimidate and harass the women they abused.
Please sign the petition to urge California legislators to pass laws preventing rapists from seeking parental rights!
We, the undersigned, are concerned with the lack of protections against rapists seeking parental rights in California. California has a reputation as a progressive state, but it is surprisingly lacking when it comes to protecting mothers whose children were conceived as the result of sexual assault.
Currently, 27 states allow for the termination of rapists' parental rights or visitation and custody rights when children were conceived as a result of rape. California is not listed among them.
According to the pending Rape Survivors Child Custody Act, 73 percent of women carry children to term following a rape, and 64 percent choose to raise their children. These women deserve protection against rapists who could seek parental rights to further intimidate and harass the women they abused.
We respectfully urge you to pass laws preventing rapists from seeking parental rights. Thank you for taking the time to read and consider our petition.
